MicJoy Advertising (MJA), a communications consult, has awarded six
educational institutions for their outstanding contribution to quality
education and the socio-economic development of the country.

The institutions are: All Nations University College (ANUC), Presbyterian
University College (PUC), Ghana Technology University College (GTUC),
Jackson Education Complex (JEC), Ideal College and Action Remedial
School. MJA also rewarded All Nations International Development Agency
(ANIDA), a Koforidua based humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisation
(NGO) for supporting the underprivileged in society. Apart from the institutions, the MJA also awarded two personalities:
former President, John Agyekum Kufuor and a Deputy Minister of
Education (Pre-Tertiary), Mr Alex Kyeremeh for their personal
contributions to the progress of education in the country.

At a ceremony held in Kumasi, the Executive Director of the MJA, Michael
Nana Ampong said among about 40 private tertiary institutions,
particularly, universities in the country, the rewarded institutions
had displayed a high sense of commitment towards progress in education
to support national development.

He said the MJA after administering 500 questionnaires in a month’s
survey selected the institutions not on fame but for the fact that
they have prioritized programmes at their places of study in the
advancement of education.

He commended both the institutions and the individuals for their
contributions and asked that they continue in their relentless
efforts to support education in Ghana.

The Awards
The awardees were given crystal objects to signify the MJA’s
appreciation of their outstanding contribution to education
development.

President Kufuor
Nana Ampong said for his eight-year administration as President, Mr
Kufuor had sought to bring life into the education sector recalling
the Prof. Anamuah Mensah Committee to check on second cycle schools
reforms.

Apart from the reform, he said the MJA had noted of President
Kufuor’s introduction of pro-poor programmes like the School Feeding
Programme (SFP), Capitation Grant, Computerised-based system for the
selection of Basic Education Certificate Examination candidates for
admission into the second cycle schools.

Again, apart from the supply of GETfund buses and Photocopier machines
to deserving schools and chartered universities, President Kufuor’s
introduction of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) which had on board school
children for free of charge, all to support quality education was commendable.

Alex Kyeremeh
The Deputy Minister of Education to the MJA had shown a personal commitment and
benchmark of super stardom for a few years he had been in office
towards quality and affordable education.

MJA executive director said he could have shown negligence but
recalled that last year alone, he personally stood up and investigated the
circumstances where some heads of SHSs were into the practices of charging
exorbitant school fees to exploit both parents and students.

Through his efforts, almost all faulting heads of SHS were reprimanded
and with the precedent in place, the minister had made the system
difficult for recalcitrant SHS administration to operate illegally,
especially on the grounds of billing of students.

Last academic year, for only five items on some SHS students’
bill, the school administration was charging an exorbitant fee of GHS 5,000.00
had the minister not intervened.

JEC
With 40 learning centres across the length and breadth of the country, JEC
has been running a three-year Diploma in Basic Education programme by
Distance Learning.

Since its inception in 2009, JEC has had more than 2,000 students
graduated from the college and currently has more than 5,000 students
learning in all the ten regions of Ghana.

What is more fascinating about JEC is that rural areas which used
not to have trained teachers are gradually getting away with it in the
area of quality teacher education.

The Director and Principal of JEC, Prof. Ebenezer A. Jackson and Mrs Theodosia W. Jackson, respectively, received the award on behalf of the college, for being the most influential private college of education in the country.

ANUC
The ANUC based in Koforidua, Eastern Regional capital and as one of
the best science-based private universities has been noted for its
exceptional science programmes and the quest for inventions.
The Intelligent Space Systems Laboratory (ISSL), of ANUC, a laboratory working on a satellite ground station which is exclusive in West Africa and helping to update the scientific feed in Ghana.

The Founder and President of the ANUC, Dr. Samuel Donkor who chaired
the awards and paper launch of the MJA, received the award for the
ANUC.

PUC
The PUC has been running Environmental Science, Natural Resources,
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and Physician Assistantship (PA)
programmes which make the university distinct from other private
universities.

Having been in existence for the past 10 years, the PUC has apart from
its Abetifi campus in the Kwahu area, opened campuses in Kumasi, Tema,
Akuapem and Agogo.

It is motivated to support education not only in the urban centres but
semi-rural areas as well.

GTUC
The GTUC has had academic linkages with foreign institutions and had
since 2006 in the area of science and technology improve the living
conditions of its students, opening campuses in Kumasi, Koforidua
apart from its Accra main campus.

It is running post-graduate programmes for students and has been
recognised as the fastest growing university in Ghana.‎
The GTUC’s Relations Officer, Afua Amankwa Sarkodie received the award
for the university.

ANIDA
Noted as one of the best humanitarian NGOs in Ghana and West Africa,
ANIDA has been sponsoring needy students from all levels of education
on 100 per cent scholarship.

For about 10 years, a wing of the ANIDA, Women Development
Centre (WDC) has trained illiterate women who now can boast of
reading, writing and expressing themselves fluently in the English
Language.

It has been presenting food items to less privileged children and orphans in their various homes as part of its mission to support the needy in society.

The Registrar of the ANUC, Dr Lynn Kisembe Darkwa received the award
on behalf of the Executive Director of the ANIDA, Rev. Mrs Rose
Donkor.

IDEAL COLLEGE & ACTION REMEDIAL
Both institutions have been a turning point to SHS students who might
have had problems in the WASSCE/SSSCE results.
Giving priority to poor or less performed WASSCE/SSSCE candidates,
they have opened branches where through remedial classes both have
sought to reshape students’ lifestyles as far as better examination
performance is important.

Launch of the Academic Diary
The Asanteman Nkosuohene, Nana Owusu Banahene who represented former
President Kufour, officially launched the Academic Diary as a
newspaper for the MJA.

The first and second copies were auctioned for GHS 3,000.00 and
GHS 2,000.00 respectively.

The 16-page newspaper focuses on education; promoting education issues
having noted that education remains the “spinal cord” of every nation.
In the mean time and having been registered at the National Media
Communication (NMC), it will be hitting the newsstands and the front
desk of other institutions once every month.